The protests against the acquittal of former Chandel ADC chairman Lhukhosei involved in the 2018 multi-crore drug haul case continue. Protestors tell government to approach a higher court against the recent judgement and initiate re-investigation into the case.
TFM Desk
Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA) vice-president Dipanjit Ningthoujam on Monday said that although the judgement and order by the ND&PS court in the Lhukhosei Zou case is honoured, there is widespread discontentment among people because of what transpired during investigation and trial of the case.
Dipanjit was speaking at a sit-in against the acquittal of former Chandel ADC chairman Lhukhosei Zou in the 2018 multi-crore drug haul case, held at Mekola Bazar, Imphal West District. It was jointly organised by Kodompokpi Maning Leikai Women’s Development Association and CADA Unit, a release said.
Dipanjit further said that the then president of All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA) and the then SP of Imphal West allegedly made an attempt to omit the name of Lhukhosei Zou from the judge’s diary. And for this the AMBA president was removed after hue and cry from the public, he said. Attempt to destroy evidence by vanishing the drug sample and frequent changes of the IO. All these incidents have made the people unable to accept the judgement, he added.
People are not convinced that the Rs 27 crore worth of drugs seized from the official quarter of Lhukhosei Zou belong to a driver whose monthly salary is mere Rs 10,000 and a helper. To clear the doubts in the minds of the people and to punish the drug smugglers, Dipanjit urged the government to file an appeal in a higher court and initiate re-inquiry into the case.
The release also added that slogans decrying the acquittal of Lhukhosei Zou, urging not to make War on Drugs a joke, demanding to punish drug smugglers, amongst were shouted at the end of the sit-in.